Football Tribe Indonesia
There are two unique that stories happened during Week 32 of the 2019 Shopee Liga 1 which finished on Friday night as this season champions, Bali United, lost against their visitors PS TIRA-Persikabo, and last season champions Persija Jakarta staved off the relegation threat after earning a big 4-0 win against Madura United at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium.
Macan Kemayoran took the lead in the 21st minute through Marko Simic’s first penalty goal of this match after ex-Persija defender, Jaimerson Xavier, fouled the Croatian striker inside the box. Simic sent goalkeeper M. Ridho to the wrong side and score his 25th goal this season.
Five minutes later, Ramdani Lestaluhu blasted the ball from outside of the penalty box after receiving a pass from Riko Simanjuntak and doubling the Tiger’s lead. Surprisingly, Persija scored another two goals before half-time. Marko Simic scored a penalty in the 29th minutes, and another one in injury time that complete his penalty hat-trick last Friday night.
The second penalty given after Jaimerson fouled Fitra Ridwan. Lucky for the Brazilian defender, he only received a yellow card for his rash challenge. But the last penalty was more debatable after there’s minimal contact in the penalty box between Madura’s defender who also another ex of Persija’s defender, Rendika Rama, and Fitra.
But there’s another surprise one day before as Bali United finally lost in front of their supporters in Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium from the hand of PS TIRA-Persikabo with a single goal scored by Indonesian-Nigerian naturalized striker, Osas Saha.
Bali themselves were the first team that could break Laskar Padjajaran 12-game unbeaten run earlier in the season. Now under the new coach Belarusian Igor Kriushenko, PS TIRA-Persikabo were able to break a game of 14 winless games in the sacred place of this season’s champions’ home.
With two more game weeks remaining, it looks impossible for Marko Simic to break the record for the most goals scored in a single season. Now on 27 and already established as this season’s top scorer, he is chasing Slyviano Comvalius’ record, as the Dutch striker scored 37 goals in a season back in 2017 with Bali United. The player who now play for Arema FC broke the long record held for 23 years by national legend, Peri Sandria.
Week 33 will be played this Sunday until Tuesday and the last matchday will be played on the 22nd of December 2019. Since last season, all the games in Week 34 will be played at the same kick-off season.